What a gorgeous spring we've had!  Still, art never stops, and Paseo Festival will be upon us again in a matter of days.  I'm working up some new body painting designs, based on vintage illustrations.  Photos here, when (if) they happen.  Meanwhile, animal shelter fundraising art show is also fast approaching.   While I expect to have a painting or two in the show, for now I've created these scrappy cats - inspired by the lovely creatures who have been discarded, but still have much to offer those fine people who are willing to give them a home.

Paseo Festival is behind me, so let me offer a great big happy thank you to all my pals who came along to keep me company, help set up and/or tear down, bring treats and drinks, as well as the plethora of  folks who offered their body parts to be painted.  It was fun, fast, and furious, and now I can move on to other things.
The first other thing will be Button Day at the Children's Center in Bethany, OK.
http://www.thechildrens-center.org/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=322&Itemid=374

I've had three paintings accepted to the show, including these:

Opening festivities are Thursday and Friday nights, 6:30 - 9:30 at The Children's Center, 6800 NW 39th Expressway, Bethany, OK, and the show will continue through the  following week.  (I think.)  More details to be found by clicking the link.

Festival Time

I know I'm delinquent, and there's really no time just now to go into the storms and the storms and the storms, etc.  Mostly it's been the wedding job keeping me occupied, and hopefully it's coming to an end very soon, seeing as the wedding happens this weekend, as does my long stretch of body painting at Paseo Festival.
With the festival in mind, and prompted by the sudden onslaught of thick hot sticky steamy weather, I was compelled to hit the thrift shop in search of fun, bits and pieces that would be practical to work in.  No one wants to get glitter and smears of paint all over their favorite clothes, but then, neither does one want to spend long hours amongst the public wearing something that's not at least a little delightful.  When garments are picked up for one or two bucks at the second hand store, there's not such a worry about what will happen to them during the festival frenzy.  Unless they're still such lovely pieces that it'd be a shame to ruin.  Ah well.....
Amongst today's loot (three skirts, three tops, a romper, and a belt, all for under $20), were the cotton/lycra halter top by Angie, and the silk two-tone skirt shown here.  I'm wearing them today; maybe they'll be retired until after the festival safely passes.  ;)

This sweet instant ensemble was also part of today's haul.






Part of the epic wedding job was five huge umbrellas.  (Two painted in a wilder, colorful style, and three 'elegant', more subtle ones).  They're finally finished, as are the two decorated chairs.  Well, the chairs are almost finished.  They're coming back for some last-minute touches, because really, what else have I to do a couple days before a big crazy festival?

Speaking of which, don't forget to come see me on Paseo, NW 30th and Paseo Street, Oklahoma City, all weekend long, from Saturday morning till Monday evening.  I'll paint you up real fancy with my exciting new kit of body paints!  And add glitter at no extra charge.
My text and wire jewelry will be (is already) on offer at "A Jeweler's Art", also on Paseo, as well as "Istvan Gallery" on North Western.
Now I think I'll go have a little rest before the creating begins again.

November has begun delightfully. Tony and I spent some time at the Girlie Show Friday night (my birthday), which may have been a bit too loud and crowded, but at least we can say we've done it now. Saturday we ventured up to Tulsa for breakfast at Queenie's, a browse through junk and antique shops, and a peek at the "Vintage Show", which, as far as I can figure, is Tulsa's version of Buchanan's Antiques Market. Only not every month, like we get it here in OKC.
Sunday I did my duty for IAO's Red Dot publicity campaign, posing with one of several Red Dot sculptures installed around the city. Erin, the organizer, asked me to wear something 'fun and costumey'. Shockingly, as I gazed at my wardrobe, nothing looked like a costume at all. Whatsoever. Sara's Halloween get-up was hanging outside her bedroom, however, so I nabbed that instead. Well, the skirt, stockings, boots, and wig are mine, but I'm wearing her blouse, vest, and jacket.

And as seen below, I won the coveted, first-ever title of Red Cup WinterSquash Queen! Yes, I'm still giddy with excitement. (In the picture I'm bending to retrieve a chandelier crystal that had fallen off my crown.)


As of tomorrow - Oklahoma Arts Institute, Quartz Mountain! Will I be taking some photos? You bet, baby.

Cupcake Violation, and Art

Nice to have Medieval Fair behind me once again. In classic OK spring festival tradition, it was too much to hope for three days of decent weather; Friday was pleasant (though the school kid crowd was noticeably smaller this year), Saturday was okay, despite the wind. Nothing was destroyed by it, and sun & mild temps encouraged lots of patrons to descend upon the park, keeping me nonstop busy for 8 hours or so. Sunday morning, I woke to a fierce north wind, clanking trees against the house, giving me a feeling of trepidation, along with a strong urge to stay in bed. I didn't, of course. Got up, packed my gear, including a couple of foil-wrapped samosas in case I had a chance to eat sometime during the day. Saturday night Tony had valiantly ventured to Cuppies & Joe, fetching me a three-pack of cupcakes, one of which I consumed on the spot. The other two were intended to create a moment of tastebud bliss at some point during the remainder of the weekend. If you snooze you lose, apparently, because as you can see from the crime scene photo, my cupcakes were quite violated in the night. The cellophane wrapper brutally ripped open and frosting devoured, tongue-lick by tongue-lick, by a phantom sweet tooth.

As if that wasn't a disappointing enough start to the day, at the end of my thirty-minute drive to Norman, I was greeted by the sight of my canopy frame in a twisted, tangled mass, fabric sides flapping pathetically in the strong gusts. Not much to do but pick up the scraps and go home. I console myself by thinking there wouldn't have been much business on such a raw day, but then I suspect I probably would have earned enough to buy a new canopy.....
And here's a caveat in the "be careful what you wish for" vein: that morning, as I was putting on my medieval clothes, Tony was smartening himself up with a tie and such, preparing to go to church. I said, "when you're there, why don't you pray for this stupid wind to stop." He replied to the effect if the wind's blowing, it's meant to blow, which wasn't the consolation I was seeking, so he acquiesced and agreed to pray. Turns out he didn't address the wind issue, but simply hoped I'd have an easier day. Reading Scott and Zelda's letters, napping for an hour, then having a Frito pie at Red Cup is certainly easier than spending 11 hours battling the elements, but still.....
I'd like to do more atcs.

Bon Voyage, Red Roses, and A Million Stars

Okay, I'm not going far, and only for a day at a time, but it's bound to be a long, three-day weekend, & I feel like I'm packing for a world tour. First, though, the day started with this lovely surprise of 20 red roses from Tony - one for each year married.
Next, it's been nearly impossible to find the teeny starry shapes I need for my top secret body painting glitter formula. I used to pick up a little bottle of Doodle Loots in the rubber stamp section of Michael's any time I needed some, but they stopped carrying it. For a while, I could buy it online, but now it seems to have ceased to exist. Long ago, Jones Tones made fantastic star glitter, in silver, and clear iridescent. That, too, has vanished. My only remaining option has been to track down eensy pots of stars sold as nail decorations, or from henna suppliers. I mean really tiny amounts, in eye shadow pots, and for a lot more money than I used to pay. Still, a grrl's gotta get her supply no matter what. Most recently, even those supplies were scarce, and I never knew, when I went searching, if I'd have any success. So, you might imagine my delight Tuesday, while aimlessly browsing the web as Sara practiced her competition routine at the ice rink, to come across a previously unknown crafty source offering silver glitter stars in convenient, and nicely priced half ounce jars. I promptly ordered 10, pleased to stock up for the next several years. Order placed Tuesday afternoon, and Thursday morning it arrived; talk about stellar service. The only strange thing was, I'd seen the product on the online catalog, and it was definitely shown in a typical, clear plastic glitter-holding type jar. Naturally, I expected to received 10 of these to stash away. Instead, squashed into the Priority Mail box was this plastic baggie - like a galactic junkie's dope supply!
I'm not going to complain though, but just be happy I have a million stars to play with.
Last reminder - come out to OU's Medieval Fair, Reeves Park, Norman, OK, Friday through Sunday, to have a festive time, enjoy the year's best people-watching opportunity, peek at all my new, exciting glassware, pendants, text necklaces, and other surprises, and go away with a fantastic bit of body painting. I can't promise you'll be wearing some of these stars, since I've already mixed a day and a half's worth of glitter, but if not now then soon, without a doubt. I'm Glassgrrl Studios in the program, address at the fair, 007.
.You can meet my trusty companions, the collaged stools, when you visit. The one on the left has been with me many, many years, and has got a couple fresh coats of polyurethane today, before the images completely wear off. Not wanting the other to feel left out, I recoated it too. Shiny, drying, and ready for hundreds of bums. Nice.